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Motherhood Around the World

Last summer, we did a series called Motherhood Around the World, which was easily one of my favorite blogging experiences of the past seven years. We featured an interview every week with an American mother living in a different country around the world. Their stories and observations about parenting abroad were fascinating, insightful, funny and surprising. Thank you so much to all the incredible mothers who shared their stories. The conversations in the comments sections were equally compelling—I loved hearing about everyone's thoughts and experiences.

Now I'm thrilled to say we're doing another Motherhood Around the World series this summer—starting today!

As I mentioned last summer, we decided to speak to American mothers abroad–versus mothers who were born and raised in those countries—because we wanted to hear how motherhood around the world compared and contrasted with motherhood in America. It can be surprisingly hard to realize what's unique about your own country ("don't all kids eat snails?"), and it tends to be easier to identify differences as an outsider.

Also, we wanted to hear from these individual mothers about their particular experiences, but of course everyone’s impressions, circumstances, socioeconomic levels and lifestyles are different, so these interviews are in no way meant to describe or reduce entire cultures. (I can’t imagine if someone tried to explain America as a whole!) These interviews are more about women’s personal stories and observations. We also chose women who were more or less from the same demographic so we could see what it was like within that similar demographic around the world. I'm curious to hear from people born and bred in each country as well, in terms of what you think rings true and what surprises you.

Anyway, we're excited to share these interviews every Monday and discuss parenting customs with you, and a huge thank you to Caroline for helping put it together. Hope you enjoy it. xoxoxo(Top photo of my parents with us in France; bottom photo of a boy in Madrid by The Sartorialist)

This is absolutely one of my favorite series! My husband grew up in SE Asia as an expat and our childhoods were SO DIFFERENT. Seriously, monkeys and machetes were a normal part of his life. I lived in the same house in Memphis, TN for 18 years, and threading my keys through my knuckles when walking to my apartment as an adult felt normal for me.So cool to see how it can all be so different.

And congratulations to your mother for looking so polished with you guys in the top pic. I didn't look look that chic when my twins were infants. (I'm better now that they are toddlers. More dresses and fewer yoga pants!)

Thanks for bringing back the Motherhood Around the World posts. I loved them last time around!

Yippee! Around this time last summer, I had just returned to work after my son was born and I was getting the hang of pumping at work. I actually looked forward to my Monday pump sessions because I knew a Motherhood Around the World post would be published that day =) So glad it is returning for a 2nd installment!

Agreed! Love, love, LOVE this series. I think it's so beneficial to learn how parents in different cultures raise their children -- there's no absolute right way, no absolute wrong way, but so many variations in between. Thanks for expanding our outlook on parenting with these posts!!

I loved this series last time - I found it so interesting to read about the different experiences of motherhood for American women living in other countries, even though I'm Australian. Thanks for bringing it back!